Opinion: Debt from attending an elite medical school shouldn’t keep new doctors from working in underserved areas

A medical degree from one of America’s elite private medical schools adds prestige to a new doctor’s resume. But it can also come with a significant impediment to society: Because of the exorbitant tuition these schools charge, it’s extremely difficult for their new doctors to help patients in underserved sections of the country who would greatly benefit from their skills, knowledge, and passion.
Among last year’s U.S. News list of the 10 most expensive private medical schools , the average annual tab was $67,214. After adding in costs like room, board, and other fees, the four-year bill exceeds $338,000. While the median loan balance for 2020 graduates of private medical schools was $215,005 , that figure is certainly higher for newly minted doctors who attended the premier — and costly — private schools. Read the rest…